A rollercoaster afternoon at Molineux saw Wolves and Brighton share the spoils in a 1-1 draw as tempers flared on and off the pitch. Wolves took the lead through a deflected Marshall Munetsi effort, but were pegged back late on after a Jan Paul van Hecke header. The drama extended beyond the pitch; Wolves boss Vítor Pereira was sent off early on for kicking a ball into the officials’ dugout. It marks the second time in as many weeks that Wolves have dropped two points from a winning position late on. Concerns are growing for Pereira’s men as the search for the first league win continues.
Player Ratings
Sam Johnstone: 7/10
Made several important saves to keep Wolves in front, but also looked shaky at times, spilling the ball more than once. Fortunately, Brighton failed to take advantage of his handling errors.
Jackson Tchatchoua: 6.5/10
A steady display from Tchatchoua, who dealt with most defensive duties well. However, he was underused going forward, particularly once Wolves sat deep after the hour mark.
Santiago Bueno: 6/10
A quieter performance than in recent weeks. Defended solidly for the most part and did little wrong, but wasn’t as commanding as last week.
Ladislav Krejčí: 8.5/10
Once again, Wolves’ standout performer. Composed, strong in the tackle, and excellent in the air. Krejčí continues to look like an inspired signing and a genuine leader at the back.
Hugo Bueno – 6/10
Not his best outing after a string of strong performances, but still dependable. Supported attacks when possible and defended his flank well against Brighton’s wide threat.
André: 7/10
Showed glimpses of quality but often found himself second-best in midfield duels. He could have offered more control and creativity in possession, but was hindered by the change in formation in the second half.
Marshall Munetsi: 6/10
Opened the scoring with a fierce volley that deflected off Verbruggen and into the net. His physicality and work rate were impressive, but he struggled to find consistency on the ball.
João Gomes: 7/10
Another tireless shift from the Brazilian. Broke up play effectively and battled hard, especially in the second half when Wolves were pinned back.
Hwang Hee-chan: 4/1
A really poor outing. Offered very little threat, lost possession cheaply, and looked off the pace. His form remains a concern, a constant head-scratcher that he continues to start despite other options on the bench.
Jørgen Strand Larsen: 5/10
Battled hard up top and held the ball well when he could, but the service was virtually non-existent. Clearly not yet 100% fit and struggled to make an impact.
Jhon Arias: 6/10
Worked tirelessly and pressed well, but wastefulness in front of goal cost him dearly. Should have opened his Wolves account when presented with a golden chance from close range.
Substitutes
Emmanuel Agbadou: 5.5/10
Introduced to form a back five in an attempt to hold onto the lead. Didn’t make any glaring errors but offered little composure as Wolves retreated too early.
David Møller Wolfe: 5/10
Had minimal influence after coming on and failed to provide any attacking spark from wide areas.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde: 5/10
At fault for Brighton’s equaliser, allowing van Hecke a free run at the ball from the corner. A lapse in concentration that proved costly.
Tolu Arokodare: N/A
Came on late in stoppage time and had no real opportunity to affect the game.
Yerson Mosquera: N/A
Also introduced late on. Didn’t have time to influence proceedings, but lost a few aerial duels during Brighton’s late pressure
It was another afternoon where Wolves fans were left scratching their heads. Vítor Pereira’s needless red card in the first half summed up a lack of discipline and control from the dugout. His substitutions did little to help, and the decision to shift to a back five with half an hour remaining was baffling, effectively inviting Brighton to attack.
Allowing Jørgen Strand Larsen to play 76 minutes after highlighting in the pre-game press conference that he wasnt 100% fit further highlighted questionable player management, while fans are increasingly calling for Fer López and Rodrigo Gomes to be given chances to freshen up a stale attack.
Wolves head into the international break winless, with both performances and tactics under serious scrutiny. Pereira will need to use the time off wisely because patience at Molineux is wearing thin.
Written by Luke Fletcher
